Reluctance to Print Doonesbury Will Only Make it More Visible

Several prominent newspapers chose not to publish a series of Doonesbury comics because they address forced ultrasound legislation. But in the new media world we live in, their decision not to publish the comic strips ensures they will be much more widely read.

Here is a list of the media outlets who refused to publish these comics. Take a couple of moments to post the comic in their comment sections, Facebook pages and Twitter streams. You’ll have to “like” the media outlet on Facebook to post on their pages… a small price to pay for activism!

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The Los Angeles Times refused to publish the Doonesbury comics in their comics section, where people would look for them. They published them, but in their op-ed section. We know, we know – we don’t see an “opinion” either.

You can post on their Facebook wall here, comment at their website here or you can click this button to tweet at them: Tweet to @latimes

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The Houston Chronicle in Texas (!) likewise refused to publish the comics in their comics section. Instead, they moved the strips to their “Outlooks” page, where no one would know or care to look. If any publication should be publishing these comics on their front page, it’s any publication located in Texas!

The Athens Banner-Herald in Georgia refused to publish the comics because the editors “thought there was a real possibility that readers might confuse the topic of this week’s ‘Doonesbury’ with Georgia’s proposed abortion legislation.” Umm, all the more reason to discuss the issue in your paper!

The Oregonian refused to publish the comics because they “went over the line of good taste and humor.” Yeah, maybe, but only because forced ultrasounds and shaming of women goes over the line of good taste and humor.

You can post to the Oregonian‘s Facebook page here, comment at their website here or you can click this button to tweet at them: Tweet to @oregonian

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The Indianapolis Star declined to publish the strips in print. You can post to their Facebook wall here or tweet at them here: Tweet to @IndyStar

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The Arizona Star likewise declined to publish (in print). You can post to their Facebook wall here or tweet at them here: Tweet to @starnet

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The SC Herald refused to publish the comics because the editors were “concerned about the graphic content.” How this excuse applies remains unclear.

You can post to the SC Herald‘s Facebook page here or you can click this button to tweet at them: Tweet to @RHHerald

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The CA Reporter refused to publish the comics because “[e]ditors believe [cartoonist Gary Trudeau] has expressed that opinion in a manner that skirts, if not crosses, the boundaries of good taste expected in a family newspaper.” Because good taste would obviously be to encourage anti-choice legislation, duh.

The UT Standard-Examiner refused to publish the comics because the “language in the original strips was not appropriate for a comic that could be viewed by children.” Tell that to Rush Limbaugh. This is a political comic strip and “slut” is a political word, these days.

The Gainesville Sun in Florida refused to publish the strips. Find them on Facebook here and tweet at them by clicking here: Tweet to @GainesvillSun

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The St. Paul Pioneer Press refused to publish the comics in print because “[t]he editors have decided the commentary in some panels is inappropriate for the comics section in the newspaper.” Not this again – what’s the criteria for “appropriate” comics?!

You can post to the St. Paul Pioneer Press‘ Facebook page here, comment at their website here or you can click this button to tweet at them: Tweet to @PioneerPress

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The Fort Worth Star Telegram refused to publish the comics in print, and today published an article stating that “the reason for not printing the strip has nothing to do with left- or right-wing politics. It has everything to do with civility and consistency.” Come on, really?

You can post to the Fort Worth Star Telegram‘s Facebook page here, comment at their website here or you can click this button to tweet at them: Tweet to @startelegram

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The North Carolina News & Record and the Winston-Salem Journal (both smaller NC newspapers) refused to publish the strips in print. You can post to the Winston-Salem Journal’s Facebook site here. You can tweet at the News & Record here: Tweet to @NewsandRecord

The Utica Observer-Dispatch refused to publish the strips in print. You can post to their Facebook page here, comment on their website here (registration required) or you can click this button to tweet at them: Tweet to @uticaOD

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The Tallahassee Democrat refused to publish the comics in print, and no one will say why. According to one reader, “Thus far, [there has been] no disclosure about its decision either in the paper or online.” After all, TD, you wouldn’t want to say the wrong thing.

You can post to the Tallahassee Democrat‘s Facebook page here or you can click this button to tweet at them: Tweet to @TDOnline